Card game

ABSTRACT

A game is provided. The game includes a plurality of playing cards that each includes an illustration. A plurality of game dice includes illustrations that correspond to the illustrations of the playing cards. A game figure is operable to be hit by at least one of the plurality of game dice.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/411,640 filed Nov. 9, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a card game and a method of playing the game.

Card games are popular among children and adults. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide card games with various play features.

SUMMARY

A method of playing a game is also provided, the method having the steps of: dealing a predetermined amount of a first plurality of playing cards from a deck to each player of the game wherein each of the first plurality of playing cards has an illustration from one of a plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; dealing a predetermined amount of a second plurality of playing cards from the deck to each player of the game wherein each of the second plurality of playing cards has an illustration depicting one of a plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game; laying the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards of each player of the game in a discrete row on a playing surface such that each player has a row of the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards; rolling one or more game dice having a plurality of sides, wherein each side of the plurality of sides includes an illustration that matches at least one of the illustrations from one of the plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; removing a playing card from the row of the player rolling the one or more game dice when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards; and using one of the game dice to hit a game figure, wherein a winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit the game figure.

In another embodiment, a game having a deck of cards, game dice, a game figure and a method for determining a winner of the game is provided, the method including the steps of: dealing a predetermined amount of a first plurality of playing cards from the deck of cards to each player of the game wherein each of the first plurality of playing cards has an illustration from one of a plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; dealing a predetermined amount of a second plurality of playing cards from the deck of cards to each player of the game wherein each of the second plurality of playing cards has an illustration depicting one of a plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game; laying the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards of each player of the game in a discrete row on a playing surface such that each player has a row of the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards; rolling one or more game dice having a plurality of sides, wherein each side of the plurality of sides includes an illustration that matches at least one of the illustrations from one of the plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; removing a playing card from the row of the player rolling the one or more game dice when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards; and using one of the game dice to hit a game figure, wherein a winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit the game figure.

A game is disclosed herein. The game includes a plurality of playing cards that each includes an illustration. A plurality of game dice includes illustrations that correspond to the illustrations of the playing cards. A game figure is operable to be hit by at least one of the plurality of game dice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following description of embodiments, the description referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a matching game according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of playing the matching game according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of playing card placement of the matching game according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a portion of the matching game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Referring now to FIG. 1, where the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments without limiting same, an exemplary matching game is shown generally at 10. The matching game 10 includes a plurality of general playing cards 12 (e.g., forty playing cards, or any other amount), a plurality of special playing cards 14 (e.g., sixteen, or any other amount), a plurality of game dice 16 (e.g., two or three dice, or any other amount), a game FIG. 18, and a rule set 20. The matching game 10 may be played using the playing cards 12, 14, the game dice 16, and the game FIG. 18 according to rules of the rule set 20. As can be appreciated, while the described embodiment includes playing cards 12, 14, the invention is not so limited and is instead intended to encompass any playing pieces of any suitable size, shape, or material.

In various non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the general playing cards 12 may comprise a synthetic or organic material and may be square or rectangular in shape and have dimensions that are easily grasped by a player. As can be appreciated, any size and configuration is contemplated to be within the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Each playing card 12 includes a first playable side 22 and a second playable side 24 that is the opposite side of the first playable side 22. When the playing cards 12 are laid with the first playable side 22 up, the playing card 12 is said to be laid “face up.” When the playing card 12 is laid with the second playable side 24 up, the playing card 12 is said to be laid “face down.”

The first playable side 22 of each playing card 12 includes an illustration or indicia 26. The illustrations 26 may be according to a theme. The theme may be, for example, but is not limited to, a bird theme, an animal theme, a sports theme, a character theme, or any other child-related theme. For example, when the theme is the bird theme, a first subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a first bird or bird-related object; a second subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a second bird or bird-related object; a third subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a third bird or bird-related object; a fourth subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a fourth bird or bird-related object; a fifth subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a fifth bird or bird-related object; and a sixth subset of the playing cards 12 may include an illustration 26 of a sixth bird or bird-related object. Some of the illustrations 26 may optionally include a special match illustration. The special match illustration may indicate that a special match of the game dice 16 or other playing cards 14 must be made to remove the playing card 12 (as will be discussed in more detail below). In one embodiment, the “special match illustration” replaces or is the sixth subset and includes all or a combination of the first through fifth subsets wherein at least two of the first through fifth subsets must be matched in order to remove the “special match illustration” card as will be described below. In one embodiment, this card is referred to as a 2× card. Of course, greater or less than two of the first through fifth subsets may be required for matching in order to remove the “special match illustration” card in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

The second playable side 24 of each playing card 12 similarly includes an illustration 28. In one example, the illustration 28 for all of the playing cards 12 may be any illustration that is the same or similar. For example, the illustration 28 for all of the playing cards 12 may include a name of the matching game 10.

The special playing cards 14 may similarly comprise a synthetic or organic material and may be square or rectangular in shape and have dimensions that are easily grasped by a player. As can be appreciated, any size and configuration is contemplated to be within the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Each playing card 14 includes a first playable side 30 and a second playable side 32 that is the opposite side of the first playable side 30. When the playing cards 14 are laid with the first playable side 30 up, the playing card 14 is said to be laid “face up.” When the playing card 14 is laid with the second playable side 32 up, the playing card 14 is said to be laid “face down.”

The first playable side 32 of each playing card 14 includes an illustration or indicia 34. The illustration 34 may indicate a special act to be performed by a player. For example, the illustration may illustrate “remove the next card,” to allow the player to remove the next playing card 12; may indicate to “draw one,” to allow the player to draw one or any other amount of playing cards 12 from a draw pile and hand them to a player of the player's choosing or cause another player to draw the cards, including an opponent; may cause any opponent to lose their next turn; may cause a player to give another player their “2× card” which is placed in the first position of an opponent's castle or configuration of playing cards 12 placed on a surface (as will be described below); and may indicate “roll again” to allow the player to roll the game dice 16 again. As can be appreciated, other special acts are considered to be within the exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The second playable side 32 of each playing card 14 similarly includes an illustration (not shown). In one example, the illustration for all of the playing cards 14 may be any illustration that is the same or similar. For example, the illustration for all of the playing cards 12 may include the name of the matching game 10.

Each of the game die 16 may comprise a synthetic or organic material and may be, for example, cubed in shape and have dimensions that are easily grasped by a player. Of course, any size and configuration is contemplated to be within the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Each of the game die 16 a, 16 b, 16 c includes multiple sides (e.g., six sides for a cube) 36. Each of the sides 36 includes an illustration 38. Each of the illustrations 38 may be different and based on the theme.

Some or all of the illustrations 38 may match or correspond to the illustrations 26 of the playing cards 12. For example, a first side of the game die 16 a includes an illustration 38 of the first bird or bird-related object (e.g., first subset); a second side of the game die 16 a includes an illustration 38 of the second bird or bird-related object (e.g., second subset); a third side of the game die 16 a includes an illustration 38 of the third bird or bird-related object (e.g., third subset); a fourth side of the game die 16 a includes an illustration 38 of the fourth bird or bird-related object (e.g., fourth subset); a fifth side of the game die 16 a includes an illustration 38 of the fifth bird or bird-related object (e.g., fifth subset); and a sixth side of the game die 16 a include an illustration 38 of the sixth bird or bird-related object (e.g., sixth subset). Alternatively, the sixth side of the game die is configured to have an illustration that includes all of the first through fifth subsets such that the sixth side is a “wild side” and can be used to match any one of the first through fifth subsets. In this embodiment, there are five subsets corresponding some of the plurality of playing cards 12, wherein a sixth subset of the playing cards 12 is the 2× card and the sixth side of the game die is a “wild side” that can be used to match any one of the first through sixth subsets of the plurality of playing cards 12. In one embodiment, the illustrations 38 of the game dice only match the subsets of the playing cards 12 and do not match the illustrations 28 of the special playing cards 14.

Optionally, some of the illustrations 38 may indicate a special act to be performed by a player or may indicate that the side is a “wild” side. For example, if the illustration 38 indicates a special act, the illustration 38 may indicate “go again,” to allow the player to roll the game dice 16 again; may indicate to “draw one,” to allow the player to draw one or any other amount of playing cards 12 from a draw pile and hand them to an opponent; and may indicate “miss” to allow the player to miss the turn. As can be appreciated, other special acts are considered to be within the exemplary embodiments of the invention. In another example and as mentioned above, if the illustration 38 indicates a “wild” side, the illustration 38 may be any illustration that is not the same or similar to the other illustrations 26 but that indicates that the side is a “wild” side.

In various embodiments, the illustrations 38 of the sides of the game die 16 b, 16 c may be the same as or may be different than the sides of the game die 16 a, depending on the number of illustrations provided on the playing cards 12. When the game dice 16 are rolled onto the playing surface, the sides that are facing up when the game dice 16 come to a rest are said to be the “rolled side.”

The game FIG. 18 may comprise one or multiple elements that make up a two or three dimensional object that is of a shape and color that corresponds to the theme of the playing cards 12, 14 and/or the dice 16. For example, when the theme is the bird theme, the game FIG. 18 may be a golden egg that rests on a stand. In an alternative embodiment, the game FIG. 18 resembles a pig. Of course, numerous other illustrations and/or configurations are considered to be within the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The game FIG. 18 may have particular desirable properties, such as the capability of falling over upon impact from one or more flicked dice. As can be appreciated, any size and configuration is contemplated to be within the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One non-limiting example of such a game figure includes a stand 19 configured to receive a planar member 21 therein. In one embodiment, planar member 21 has an illustration thereon thus providing a target for the user to flick the game die at it in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

The rule set 20 includes a plurality of rules that define one or more games that may be played with the playing cards 12, 14 and the game dice 16. The rules, for example, define the game operations that may be performed with each playing card 12, 14, define the order of the game operations, and/or define the determination of a winner of the matching game 10.

Exemplary rules of the playing cards 12, 14 are shown in the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 1 X number of general playing cards are distributed to each player. 2 Y number of remaining general playing cards are placed on the playing surface as a draw pile for the general playing cards. 3 Z number of special playing cards are distributed to each player. 4 W number of remaining special playing cards are placed on the playing surface as a draw pile for the special playing cards. 5 Each player lays their X number of general playing cards face up in a row on the playing surface, wherein this row of playing cards is referred to as a player's castle or configuration of general playing cards. 6 Each player holds their Z number of special playing cards in their hand for use during game play. 7 A playing card in the player's row is removed from the player's row when the illustration on the rolled side of one of the dice matches the illustration on the playing card. In one embodiment, the playing card at the end or bottom of the player's row must be removed first and thereafter the next available card in the row is the card at the end or bottom and must be the next one removed until all of the player's cards are removed. In one embodiment and if a plurality of dice are used, and wherein the illustration on the rolled dice sequentially matches a first playing card in the player's row and the next playing card and the player's row these cards can be removed from the player's row or castle. 8 Certain of the playing cards with special match illustrations in the player's row are only removed when a pair of illustrations is rolled on the game dice. 9 The playing cards are removed in order. 10 In one alternative and based on the role of the game dice, additional playing cards may be drawn from the remaining playing cards in the draw pile and are laid in a player's row, or additional special playing cards may be drawn from the remaining special playing cards and are placed in the player's hand. 11 Based on the play of the special playing cards, a playing card may be removed from the player's row and/or added to another player's row. 12 Once a player has removed all of their playing cards in their row they are free to attempt to knock down the game FIG. 18 by flicking one of the game dice at it. No player may flick the game dice at the game FIG. 18 until all of their playing cards in their row have been removed. In one embodiment, the game dice must be flicked at the game FIG. 18 (See FIG. 4). 13 A winner of the game is determined when the game piece is knocked over through the flicking of the game dice.

In another example, rules of game play are shown in the following Table 2.

TABLE 2 1 The game may be played with any number of players. 2 Players take turns rolling at least two of the dice in clockwise order. 3 Additional die may be rolled once a player has reached a particular point in the game. (For example, once a player has removed half of the cards in their row, or once a player has removed a particular special purpose card in their row). 4 The playing cards are played according to the role of the dice and the rules of the playing cards. 5 Once all of the playing cards in a player's row have been removed, that player's turn includes flicking one of the dice at the game figure to hit the game figure or to knock down the game figure. 6 Game play ends when the game figure has been hit or knocked down. 7 A winner is determined based on the first player to hit or knock down the game figure.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and with continued reference to FIG. 1, a flowchart illustrates a method of playing the matching game 10 (FIG. 1). As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the order of operation within the method is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated in FIG. 2, but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure.

In one example, the method may begin at 100. The playing cards 12 and the special playing cards 14 may be distributed to the players at 110 and 120. The remaining playing cards 12, 14 are placed on the playing surface as respective draw piles. The game FIG. 18 is placed on the playing surface a distance D (e.g., three feet or any other suitable distance) from each player at 130. Further at 130, each player lays their playing cards 12 face up in a row 202 on the playing surface to define a player's row or castle 202, wherein the row 202 leads to the game FIG. 18. Of course, other locations of row 202 are contemplated to be within the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The arrangement may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B for two or more players.

A player's turn is determined at 140. During the player's turn, the player rolls the game dice 16 at 150. Once the game dice 16 have come to a rest on the playing surface, the illustrations 38 on the game dice 16 are compared to the illustrations 26 of the playing cards 12 in the player's row 202. If one of the illustrations 38 on the rolled side of the game dice 16 matches an illustration 26 of the next playing card 12 in their row 202 at 160 (e.g., the first or bottom playing card 12 in the player's row 202), the matched playing card 12 is removed from the row 202 at 170 and the next card is now the first or bottom playing card 12 in the player's row 202 that must be matched at their next turn. If the next playing card 12 includes a special match illustration and the illustrations 38 on the game dice 16 match the special match illustration, the matched playing card 12 or the match game dice playing card 12 is removed from the row 202. If, however, one of the illustrations 38 does not match the illustration of the next playing card 12 or the game dice 16 do not match, it is determined whether the player chooses to play a special playing card 14. If the player chooses to play a special playing card 14 at 165, the special act (e.g., draw two, miss, go again, etc.) is performed at 175. If, however, the player does not choose to play a special playing card 14, a special playing card 14 may be drawn from the draw pile and placed in the player's hand at 177. In one embodiment, the number of special playing cards 14 are limited thus a player may draw a new special playing card 14 however another one may have to be discarded in order to have the required number of special playing cards 14. The decision to perform a special act may also be premised on whether the player has reached a particular part of the game. For example, if the player has removed a particular number or percentage of the playing cards 12 in their row 202, or if the player has removed a particular playing card 12 or type of playing card 12 from within their row 202. The corresponding special act may include rolling an additional die 16 for any future rolls.

The next player's turn is then determined at 140, and play continues with the player's turn at 150-177 until there are no more playing cards 12 in one of the players' row 202 at 180. If all the playing cards 12, in the player's row 202 have been removed at 180, the player selects a game die 16 a, 16 b or 16 c, places that game die 16 a, 16 b, or 16 c a distance D′ from the game FIG. 18, and flicks the game die 16 a, 16 b or 16 c with their finger 23 at the game FIG. 18 at 190 (see also FIG. 4). If the game die 16 a, 16 b, or 16 c hits or knocks down the game FIG. 18 at 200, a winner may be determined to be the first player who hit or knocked down the game FIG. 18 at 210. Thereafter, the game play may end at 220.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application. 

1. A method of playing a game, comprising: dealing a predetermined amount of a first plurality of playing cards from a deck to each player of the game wherein each of the first plurality of playing cards has an illustration from one of a plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; dealing a predetermined amount of a second plurality of playing cards from the deck to each player of the game wherein each of the second plurality of playing cards has an illustration depicting one of a plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game; laying the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards of each player of the game in a discrete row on a playing surface such that each player has a row of the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards; rolling one or more game dice having a plurality of sides, wherein each side of the plurality of sides includes an illustration that matches at least one of the illustrations from one of the plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; removing a playing card from the row of the player rolling the one or more game dice when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards; and using one of the game dice to hit a game figure, wherein a winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit the game figure.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit and knock down the game figure by flicking one of the game dice at the game figure with their finger to knock down the game figure.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a player uses one of the game dice to hit the game figure only after all of that player's playing cards have been removed from their row by matching a rolled side of one of the game dice to each illustration of the playing cards in their row.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing cards are removed from a player's row when the illustration on the rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards located at an end of the row.
 5. The method of claim 5, wherein another one of the playing cards is removed if the rolled side of another one of the game dice matches the illustration on a playing card adjacent to the playing card located at the end of the row.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game is selected from the group consisting of: removing a card from a player's row; drawing another playing card from the first plurality of playing cards and adding it to a player's row; causing a player to lose their next turn; giving another player one of the first plurality of playing cards that requires a match of an illustration of two dice in order to remove the one of the first plurality of playing cards; and allowing a player to roll the one or more game dice again.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game is adding to another player's row one of the first plurality of playing cards that requires a match of an illustration of two dice in order to remove the one of the first plurality of playing cards.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game is adding to the end of another player's row one of the first plurality of playing cards that requires a match of an illustration of two dice in order to remove the one of the first plurality of playing cards.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of the second plurality of playing cards are held in a player's hand during the game and wherein the illustrations of the second plurality of playing cards do not match the illustrations of the first plurality of playing cards.
 10. A game having a deck of cards, game dice, a game figure and a method for determining a winner of the game, the method comprising: dealing a predetermined amount of a first plurality of playing cards from the deck of cards to each player of the game wherein each of the first plurality of playing cards has an illustration from one of a plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; dealing a predetermined amount of a second plurality of playing cards from the deck of cards to each player of the game wherein each of the second plurality of playing cards has an illustration depicting one of a plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game; laying the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards of each player of the game in a discrete row on a playing surface such that each player has a row of the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards; rolling one or more game dice having a plurality of sides, wherein each side of the plurality of sides includes an illustration that matches at least one of the illustrations from one of the plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; removing a playing card from the row of the player rolling the one or more game dice when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards; and using one of the game dice to hit a game figure, wherein a winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit the game figure.
 11. A game, comprising: a plurality of playing cards that each include an illustration; a plurality of game dice that include illustrations that correspond to the illustrations of the playing cards; and a game figure operable to be hit by at least one of the plurality of game dice.
 12. The game of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of special game cards that each include an illustration of a special act to be performed by a player.
 13. The game of claim 12, wherein the illustration of each of the plurality of special game cards does not match the illustration of the game dice.
 14. The game of claim 11 further comprising a rule set that provides that a playing card is removed from a player's row when the game dice are rolled and when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on the playing card.
 15. The game of claim 11 further comprising a rule set that provides that: a predetermined amount of a first plurality of playing cards are dealt from a deck to each player of the game wherein each of the first plurality of playing cards has an illustration from one of a plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; a predetermined amount of a second plurality of playing cards are dealt from the deck to each player of the game wherein each of the second plurality of playing cards has an illustration depicting one of a plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game; the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards of each player of the game are placed in a discrete row on a playing surface such that each player has a row of the predetermined amount of the first plurality of playing cards; one or more game dice having a plurality of sides are rolled by each player during their turn, wherein each side of the plurality of sides includes an illustration that matches at least one of the illustrations from one of the plurality of subsets of the first plurality of cards; a playing card is removed from the row of the player rolling the one or more game dice when the illustration on a rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards; and one of the game dice is used to hit a game figure, wherein a winner of the game is determined by the first player to hit the game figure.
 16. The game of claim 15, wherein the rule set further provides that a player use one of the game dice to hit the game figure only after all of that player's playing cards have been removed from their row by matching a rolled side of one of the game dice to each illustration of the playing cards in their row.
 17. The game of claim 15, wherein the rule set further provides that the playing cards are removed from a player's row when the illustration on the rolled side of one of the game dice matches the illustration on one of the playing cards located at an end of the row and wherein another one of the playing cards is removed if the rolled side of another one of the game dice matches the illustration on a playing card adjacent to the play.
 18. The game of claim 15, wherein the rule set further provides that the one of the plurality of actions to be performed by at least one player of the game is adding to another player's row one of the first plurality of playing cards that requires a match of an illustration of two dice in order to remove the one of the first plurality of playing cards.
 19. The game of claim 11, wherein the plurality of playing cards include five distinct subsets each having a unique and discrete illustration and wherein each of the plurality of game dice have six sides each having a unique and discrete illustration, wherein the illustration of each of five of the six sides of the dice corresponds to the illustration of one and only one of the five distinct subsets of the plurality of playing cards and the remaining one of the six sides of the dice corresponds to each of the five distinct subsets of the plurality of playing cards.
 20. The game of claim 19, wherein the unique and discrete illustration of each of the five distinct subsets illustrate a bird and wherein the game figure further comprises a planar member and a stand for holding the planar member. 